Les Camarades 1916

Théophile Alexandre Steinlen made this drawing, Les Camarades, with ink and charcoal. Can you imagine Steinlen in his studio, capturing this scene with such loose, expressive marks? It's like he's bearing witness to the casualties of war. I can imagine his hand moving quickly across the page, trying to capture the weight of the soldiers carrying their wounded comrade to safety. The monochromatic palette really enhances the somber mood, doesn’t it? It's as if the color has been drained from the world, leaving behind only shades of gray. There is a sense of urgency in the way Steinlen applied the ink and charcoal, the strokes almost desperate. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, with their shared intensity and commitment to social commentary through art. You can feel the impact of witnessing devastation, and the power of the artist's gesture. It's a conversation between artists, each responding to the world in their own way.